Utilizing Advanced Search to Locate Hard-to-Find Parts

When searching for the right replacement part in a large database or online shop, it can sometimes be a real challenge to locate the right piece. You may find matches to your query from different brands with similar model numbers, or you may just end up with too many results to efficiently sort through for the part you want.

Either way, using advanced search features can be an extremely helpful - and sometimes downright necessary - skill to learn.

Product Categories

One of the best ways to narrow down your search field and ensure that you're only finding parts that are relevant to your search terms and your needs is to utilize product categories in your advanced searches.

Select the appropriate category to ensure that your results are not including irrelevant parts or manufacturers, or similar items with vastly different applications.

Product categories tend to be quite wide, however, and are not necessarily going to limit your search terribly effectively on their own. For that reason, it is also recommended to employ sub-categories wherever possible.

Sub-Categories

Sub-categories can be used to help break down a large category into more manageable pieces. If, for example, you are looking for a specific variable torque motor drive part, you may find that you are getting far too many results under the category Motor Drives.

In order to increase your chance of finding the right part, narrow down your search by selecting the appropriate sub-category.

Specifications

Another helpful search field is the specifications field. This allows you to really customize search results to find the exact part you are looking for, or at least a suitable alternative.

By utilizing this search metric, you'll be able to find all of the parts that fit your technical requirements, even if they don't exactly match your model number. This way, if you are unable to find the exact piece you need, you will at least have some potential alternatives that you can investigate further to see if they will suit your purpose.

Filters

Positive and negative filters can further help to refine your search by including and excluding specific manufacturers, models, categories, sub-categories, or specs. If your searches are turning up far too many results to sort through, applying negative filters is a great way of sorting out the wheat from the chaff so to speak and making it easier for you to find that needle in the haystack.